My wife and I watched it a year or so ago. The old man wants to establish a monastery on his run-down estate (I think it was in France) and invites these Russian nuns to come over and do so. But they insist upon making these changes that begin to aggravate him and it builds from there. It's was an odd movie... somewhat interesting (hey... we didn't pop it out of the DVD player at least) but certainly not an award winner. If memory serves my wife was pretty much bored with the whole thing but toughed it out to the end.

Octogenarian Jorgen Lauersen Vig -- a lifelong bachelor -- owns a tumbledown castle in rural Denmark and for 50 years has dreamed of transforming it into an orthodox Russian monastery. But when intractable Russian nun Sister Ambrosija and her delegation are sent to assess the castle, she insists on extensive renovations -- a hitch that could prevent Vig's dream from coming true in director Pernille Rose Grønkjær's offbeat documentary.

My wife and I rented it in February 2008 (I see this from our history on Netflix). I think I'll throw it in our queue again. Maybe it will be better second time around. I know that the subtitling really discouraged my wife (who hates foreign movies with a passion... LOL) but I didn't mind quite as much.

Somehow it seems a bit odd having a woman, even if she is a nun, in charge of such an operation...

Couldn't the Church have sent over some men to organize the project? I thought "church planting" (as it was called in my former church) was a function of the Church, and as such, should have male leadership.

At any rate, I'm getting a bit curious about this film, so I may try to watch it after all...

I saw this film a year or so ago. It wasn't especially entertaining in my opinion, but it was interesting to see how the monastery got started. It was worth a watch. The documentary took place in Denmark. The scenery was beautiful.

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Troparion - Tone 1:O Sebastian, spurning the assemblies of the wicked,You gathered the wise martyrs Who with you cast down the enemy; And standing worthily before the throne of God, You gladden those who cry to you:Glory to him who has strengthened you! Glory to him who has granted you a crown!

I completely agree with what Bono Vox has said: not particularly entertaining but the scenery is beautiful. It's a very slow-moving film. You really get tuned into the old man's hard work and crankiness. The plot is almost non-existent but it is there... as thin as it is. I put it back into our queue but dropped it to the bottom. Knowing my wife, I'll likely have to watch it by myself.

I enjoyed this movie very much. I especially liked the Russian nun, Mother Amrosija, who is just as I imagine a Russian nun would be. It is slow-moving and somewhat reminiscent of The Island, which I also loved. We have some Danish friends who actually know these sisters and have visited the monastery.

I've seen some amazing work done by the nuns at St. Paisius Monastery in Arizona. Those hard working sisters can handle (and have handled) any work the general contractors do as they tame that patch of desert.

Somehow it seems a bit odd having a woman, even if she is a nun, in charge of such an operation...

Couldn't the Church have sent over some men to organize the project? I thought "church planting" (as it was called in my former church) was a function of the Church, and as such, should have male leadership.

At any rate, I'm getting a bit curious about this film, so I may try to watch it after all...

I rented this film on Netflix and I loved it. I wonder if Ansgar has seen this. Is the monastery open to visitors?

Unfortunately, the only time I have seen it I only managed to see the latter part of the film. But from what I see it was a very beautiful documentary. Therefore I also became sad when I talked to a friend whom I visited this Pascha who told me that he had heard that Sister Ambrosija had moved back to Russia so currently the castle must stand empty I think. But if you like you kan watch these pictures which was taken when our parish in Copenhagen visited the monastery back in 2009 http://ortodoks.dk/2009_hesbjerg.html

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Do not be cast down over the struggle - the Lord loves a brave warrior. The Lord loves the soul that is valiant.

That's a shame about Sister Amvrosija. She seems like a really nice person... just not someone you want to mess with. Is it possible that she's just taking a hiatus? Also, I thought the plan was to have 4-5 nuns, not just one.

« Last Edit: September 09, 2011, 07:00:24 AM by Iconodule »

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"A riddle or the cricket's cryIs to doubt a fit reply." - William Blake